TOPIC: Door decorating contest - rules/guidlines?

I would like to hold a door decorating contest for our residents with prizes.
What type of rules/guidelines do you make- such as use only Command hooks, no nails, or screws?
That type of thing. I was going to mail this out next week.
Also, what prizes do you use? I was thinking of gift card of $50 to the store of their choice?
Thanks in advance for the great ideas and thoughts!

I love resident decorating contests! One suggestion - sometimes it is a good idea to have a third party do the "judging" so you are not put in the middle. :) Usually, if the property is sponsoring a contest and awarding prizes the property's budget covers the expense. I would suggest having more than one prize though - sometimes it is nice to give out "participatory prizes" of coupons to restaurants or $5 Starbucks cards to a lot of people. That way they feel happy to have made the effort. Advertise it on your facebook page (but not asking for Likes) and on your website resident page. As for rules, I would go over this with your company - some allow nails in common area hallways, others don't. Take photos - lots! - and put these on your Facebook page and website, too! Put them in newsletter, too, if you have one of those. Have fun!

Thanks for the suggestions! I did figure on asking a good friend of mine, who does not know any of the residents....to judge. The participation gift is a GREAT idea! Since we are the owners and managers, we have some "wiggle-room" for the budget! I will definitely take lots of pictures!

My property hosts an annual decorating contest that the residents LOVE! Here is what we do to ensure fair judging:
We send out a newsletter at the end of November and detail all of the holiday events, including the details of the contest. We set a date to register by (12/07/12 this year) and ask residents to make sure they have everything ready and their lights on that evening. That evening we go around after dark and take pictures of all of the registered patios and develop the photos over the weekend.
We than arrange all the pictures on a board (a large framed picture in the office we cover with wrapping paper) and nuumber them and set out blank slips up paper and pens for people to vote. This is fun as residents ask their neighbors to vote for them, and we even ask prospects and vendors that come in to vote which shows them what a fun community we are! We count the votes and announce the winner at our annual holiday potluck.
Good luck with your event!

Annie, that is a great way to do this! Thanks for sharing the way you guys do it. It sounds like the best way to get active resident participation, plus it builds up your sense of community especially with vendors, etc. also voting. Sounds like a lot of fun, too!